Places to visit
GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM
Goreme Open-Air Museum resembles a vast monastic complex composed of scores of refectory monasteries placed side-by-side, each with its own fantastic church. It is obviously the first sight to be visited by any traveler in Cappadocia, standing as it does in the very center of the region with easy access from all directions. It is only 15 minutes walk (1.5km, 1 mile) from Goreme village center. It contains the finest of the rock-cut churches of 10th, 11th and 12th centuries., with beautiful frescoes (wall paintings) whose colors still retain all their original freshness. It also presents unique examples of rock hewn architecture and fresco technique. The Goreme Open Air Museum has been a member of UNESCO World Heritage List since 1984, and was one of the first two UNESCO sites in Turkey.
UNDERGROUND CITIES
Turkey’s Cappadocia region is famous for its subterranean safe cities carved from soft tuff. These underground cities, which are among the most interesting cultural richness of Cappadocia, take tourists from all over the world on a mysterious journey every year.
The underground cities in Cappadocia, interconnected by corridors, were used as hiding places by Christians in the 7th century. These subterranean cities were self sufficient cities with granaries, stables, rooms, kitchens and ventilation systems. The most famous underground cities uncovered until now around Cappadocia are found in Derinkuyu, Kaymakli, Tatlarin, Ozkonak, Mazi and Ozluce. Derinkuyu Underground City and Kaymakli Underground City were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
Today, visiting these magnificent structures is one of the most splendid and attractive part of Cappadocia tours.
UCHISAR CASTLE
Uchisar is situated at the highest point in Cappadocia, on the Nevsehir-Goreme road, just 5 km from Goreme. The top of the Uchisar Castle, provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area with Mount Erciyes in the distance. Many rooms hollowed out into the rock are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels and passages. At the entrances of the rooms, there are millstone doors, just like the ones in the underground settlements, used to control access to these places. Due to the erosion in places of this multi-leveled castle, it is unfortunately not possible to reach all the rooms. Most of the rooms, located on the north side of the castle are in use as pigeon houses (dovecuts) today. Farmers used these cave pigeon houses to collect the droppings of pigeons which is an excellent natural fertilizer for the orchards and vineyards.
PASABAG (MONKS VALLEY)
Pasabag in Cappadocia is located on the road coming from Goreme or Avanos. Highly remarkable earth pillars can be seen here, in the middle of a vineyard, hence the name of the place which means: the Pacha’s vineyard. Pacha means “General”, the military rank, in Turkish and it is a very common nick name. This site is also called Monks Valley. The name was derived from some cones carved in tuff stones which stand apart. Currently, there is a vineyard and a number of tuff cones standing right next to the road.
DEVRENT (IMAGINATION VALLEY)
Devrent Valley, which is also known as Imaginary Valley and also as Pink Valley does not have cave churches like the other valleys of Cappadocia. So what makes it so famous is the lunar landscape! The small fairy chimneys in the valley form a lunar landscape, or moonscape, by their strange look. The valley also has many animal shaped rocks. It looks like a sculpture zoo made by nature. Some of the most important, or the easiest seen animal shapes are camel, snake, seals, and dolphin. If you let your imagination run free you will find many others. It is like looking at clouds and seeing a dragon. There is even a rock pillar which looks like Virgin Mary, holding Jesus Christ.
IHLARA VALLEY
The Ihlara Valley is home to one of the important Cappadocia tourist attractions. The Valley is in a region of tall poplar trees and rich agricultural land.
During the Byzantine period, this was a favoured retreat for hermetic monk communities, who carved churches and monastery complexes into the cliff face. The Kokar Kilise (Fragrant Church), Yılanlı Kilise (Snake Church), and Kirk Dam Altı Kilise (St. George Church) are three of the best which should not be missed.
It is also believed that the valley housed more than 4000 dwellings, 100 cave churches decorated with frescoes and about 80,000 people at one time.
Activities
HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT
Imagine yourself and your family on a hot air balloon, flying over the world famous fairy chimneys and the once camouflaged churches. Explore the ancient underground cities where thousands of people once lived.
The spectacular surrealistic landscapes combined with excellent flying conditions allowing the balloons to gently drift over and between fairy chimneys, pigeon houses hewn into the unique rock formations, orchards and vineyards through impressive valleys, each with distinctive rock formations, colours and features and then float up over rippled ravines for breathtaking views over the region.
These make Cappadocia one of the most popular spots in the world to go up in a hot air balloon. Get ready for one of the most exciting experiences ever.
HORSE RIDING
Horseback riding tours is one of the main activities you can do in Cappadocia. Cappadocia , as a word, derived from the Hittite word “Katpatuka,” commonly held to mean “Land of Beautiful Horses”.
And today’s horses are probably the best natural guides to lead you through the canyons and legends which linger like the mists of time.
Even if this will be your first time for riding, you will be ready discovering after short briefing in a professional horse ranch which is checked for safety measure regularly. Moreover, you can get your children ridden and enjoy discovering together.
POTTERY MAKING
The town of Avanos is located on the banks of the Kizilirmak, the Red River. The town is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Goreme. famous for its tradition of pottery-making that has been alive since the times of the Hittites. If you want to give it a try, call in at a workshop, and take up your position before the wheel. What happens next is up to the skills of your hands and the vividness of your imagination. Master potters standing nearby will lend you their support and maybe give you a few pointers.
When you leave, don’t forget to pick up an example or two of the craftsmen’s work as a memento of your time there.
HIKING / TREKKING
Cappadocia is one of the best hiking areas in the world as it has a dramatic geography, stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage distilled over the ages through many diverse cultures living side by side.
Hiking around Cappadocia region of Turkey is a unique experience offering some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Fantastic rock formations and age old valleys full of old settlements present numerous walking opportunities to visitors. The fairy chimneys change their colors according to the time of day, the villages captivate visitors with a majestic panorama, the footpaths disappear into the horizon, the blossoms on the trees, the natural life, and the historic settlements all make Cappadocia an attractive destination for hiking and trekking lovers.
ATV QUAD TOUR
If you wonder about Cappadocia, the creek, the hill; not afraid of dust, sludge, in short; If you love adrenaline, if you love nature ATV quad tour is just for you.
Cappadocia has a magical geographic décor where history and nature are intertwined and will make every moment of yours wonderful. One of the best excitements that will reveal the traveler inside you is to ride ATV when you are visiting this extraordinary paradise.
WINE TASTING
If you’re a wine enthusiast, then one of the best things to do in Cappadocia is to visit wineries. Its fertile soil means that there are lots of vineyards, and this has been so throughout Cappadocia’s history. It has become one of the best places in Turkey to produce wine.
You’ll find that Ürgüp produces boutique wines, which have become a signature of Cappadocia. This is true particularly for the white wines made from Emir, which is a grape indigenous to Cappadocia. You can easily find the white wines produced especially from Emir grapes in just about any supermarket in the country.
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